A Unique Way for Elderly to Go Back to School

The fall and winter months can be lonely times for senior citizens. Their children and grandchildren have gone back to school and work. Rain and snow in many parts of the country can restrict gardening and daily excursions. Some are left with little to occupy their time.

But there’s an attractive and low-cost alternative for those who have celebrated their 60th birthday: They can go back to school too.

Whether you are interested in art, history, language or current events, chances are that Elderhostel, a nonprofit residential educational program for seniors, has a class that would interest you.

Its one-week programs in the United States are offered in 1,800 locations, including colleges, universities, museums and laboratories. In addition, the Boston-based company has longer sessions in 45 countries around the world.

The cost for the domestic programs averages $275 to $300--roughly $40 to $50 per day. And that includes everything except the air, train or car fare it takes to get you to the class.

Those who cannot afford the tab for a domestic program can get a scholarship. About 2,500 Elderhostel scholarships are available each year, and are given out directly through the company and through colleges that participate. Elderhostel also works with some national organizations, such as the Urban League, to find seniors who need free tuition. Scholarships are not available for overseas classes.

A brief look at a little of what the company offers: There’s a one-week course at Berea College in Kentucky, starting Dec. 8. The educational program covers religious concepts, seasonal literature and First Amendment rights. The cost is $280, which includes lodging at the Boone Tavern--a historic inn on the edge of campus that’s usually used as a conference center--three meals a day and class tuition.

The cost for overseas programs can be significantly more.

There’s a two-week program that takes seniors on a barge in France’s Burgundy district, where they learn about the region’s rich cultural, religious and gastronomic history. The second week takes participants to Paris, where they study art at the Louvre. The price, including air fare from New York, is just under $3,400.

(Although it is nearly impossible to find an identical program, two-week tours to France will run $1,500 to $2,000. However, tours rarely include three meals a day. And, of course, they don’t usually offer classes.)

“This is really a comprehensive fee,” said William Berkeley, president of Elderhostel. “If you get yourself there, you really don’t have to spend one extra cent. Any additional expenditures are totally discretionary.”

What Elderhostel does not include is sightseeing. Although the program sometimes includes a trip to a local museum or aquarium, the company’s programs are not designed as budget tours. They are short-term, residential, educational programs--which is to say if you want to sightsee, you are usually on your own.

Of course, there is plenty of time for it. Classes generally end by 2 p.m., at which point students are free until about 5 p.m., when dinner starts. And if you want to skip a class to see the countryside, no one will punish you for it.

As for the classes: There are no tests, quizzes, papers or grades. You do not need a high school or college diploma to attend, nor do you need other specific knowledge or prerequisites.

“This is education the way it is supposed to be--for your own self interest and enjoyment instead of the utilitarian purpose of getting a job or advanced credentials,” Berkeley said.

The one requirement is that you attend at least one class per day. That’s usually not a problem, Berkeley said. About 80% of the seniors signing up for the Elderhostel program attend all three classes each day.

What’s the catch?

As you can probably guess from the cost, you are not spending the week in the lap of luxury. You typically stay in a college dormitory and eat in the cafeteria. You almost always have to share a room. In some cases, such as at classes held in national parks, sleeping quarters are barracks-like--women in one large room, men in the other. (Sometimes, seniors can secure a single room for an additional cost, but single accommodations cannot be guaranteed, Berkeley said.)

Consequently, program organizers are careful to describe the accommodations thoroughly for each trip--just in case participants consider the sleeping arrangements a bit too primitive.

To find out more about the program, you can request a class brochure and get on the company’s mailing list by writing to Elderhostel, 75 Federal St., Boston, Mass. 02110. Catalogues are also sometimes available in public libraries.